Revelation vs. Vision

Where there is no vision, the people perish. — Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

This version of Proverbs 29:18 is familiar to us all, but other translations put a different light on it. For instance, the NIV renders it this way:

“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” (Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

I’ve often read this verse in terms of vision casting and having a plan, but I think the deeper meaning is that if there is no revelation of God’s words and his instructions for living a godly life, then the people “cast off restraint” and as we read about in the Old Testament, people then do what is right in their own eyes.

We see it happening all around us. The church in America has shrunk back from their role in providing Godly wisdom of His instructions for righteous living. What see see around us is the emergance of a diversity of standards for what is right and what is wrong, allowing everyone to set their own standard of what is acceptable or not.